Curriculum intent: audit tool (primary)

Use our curriculum intent audit tool to find the areas for development in your curriculum, for any subject in the primary phase.

Last reviewed on 8 February 2024
School types: All · School phases: Primary
Ref: 38529
Contents
  1. What is curriculum intent?
  2. Collect your evidence
  3. Download the tool
  4. How to complete the audit in a trust 
  5. You know the weaknesses – now what?

What is curriculum intent?

Your curriculum intent is your curriculum plan.

It's what you want pupils to know and be able to do, at different stages of their education (e.g. by the spring term of year 4), and by the time they leave your school. 

Each subject, topic or area of your curriculum will have its own intent for what you're going to teach, when, and why. 

Ofsted's working definition working definition of intent is set out here (scroll down to 'focusing on the curriculum'). It defines intent as:

A framework for setting out the aims of a programme of education, including the knowledge and understanding to be gained at each stage

 

However, your curriculum intent should flow from your school's vision and your educational philosophy.